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Makagonov Variation 5.h3 0-06.Be3 Nbd7 7.g4 e5 [E71]
In Knaak, R - Nunn, J we have a Makagonov System where Black went for the rare 10....Nfd7 move:
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White was a bit better after 15 Nh3 but then played some more human moves and Black managed to get an equal game. Sometimes it is interesting to see how the engine thinks one position is a big advantage for White when even strong GMs might think that Black is fine. The game was quickly drawn but as a bonus I have added another game of John Nunn's from the same tournament in the annotations, this time in the Four Pawns Attack. As we don’t see him in action much these days I think it is always worth looking at his games.
Makagonov Variation 5.h3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 e5 [E71]
Koelle, T - Maurizzi, M was also in the Makagonov and we already have novelty with 8....Qe7:
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This looked like a strange idea but Black quickly prepared ...f7-f5 and with 14....e4 took the initiative. White went for the wrong plan and Black quickly got a big edge which resulted in a strong attack and a win.
Makagonov System 5.h3 0-0 6.Be3 Nc6 7.d5 Ne5 [E71]
Peyrer, K - Nieman, H featured the modern 6....Nc6 move:
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Then the game followed one of the main lines when Black decided to give it a more common KID look by playing 13....e5 and later ...f5. The game was equal until suddenly Black created an attack and White was forced to give his queen for 2 rooks but in the endgame Black won easily.
Karpov Variation 6.Be3 Na6 7.h4 [E73]
Keymer, V - Mamedov, R was in a very rare line of the Karpov variation. Actually the Black e pawn never moved which resulted in a very uncommon type of position for the KID:
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After 9 Rb1 it was already a new position and Black decided to bring his knight to e6, blocking his e pawn. He was doing ok but started to play a bit passively and White took the initiative. In the end White took advantage of the lack of counterplay and won in the endgame.
Classical Variation 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Re8 [E91]
Gukesh, D - Jumabayev, R turned out to be a marathon . In the Classical Black went for the very rare 7...Re8 which I have never seen:
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It reminds me of 7....Qe8 which I used to play a lot in the 90s. Then it seems like Black had an interesting plan in mind when he played 10....Kh8 and later managed to trade the bishops and push ...f5. The game following the usual pattern where Black was attacking on the kingside and White on the opposite until Gukesh decided to make a long king walk. Recently I think another Indian GM did something similar - check one of the previous months. Black should take advantage and open the centre and he could get a big edge, but instead he focused on the h-file where there was nothing to chase. In the long endgame White opened the c file and then started to win space and later won the game.
Classical, Petrosian System 7.d5 Na6 8.Nd2 [E92]
Ozenir, B - Svane, F was in a rare Petrosian System where White went 9.h4. and soon played a novelty with 11 Rxh5:
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Black found a good plan with 19....e4 and managed to gainthe bishop pair. Still. White managed to castle queenside and should have been OK, but then he missed a small tactic and lost straight away.
Classical Variation 7.0-0 Bg4 8.d5 a5 9.Be3 Na6 [E94]
Can, E - Kotronias, V was in the classical with 7....Bg4. Later Black went for the 10....Qd7 idea and managed to bring the knight to f4:
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White traded a few minor pieces to get a strong knight against a that bishop and after Black went for the wrong plan in the late endgame he managed to win.
Classical Variation 7...Na6 8.Be3 Qe7 [E94]
Navara, D - Asadli, V featured the popular Classical with 7....Na6 but then the rare 8....Qe7:
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Black got a decent game with the standard ideas 11....g5 and then ...f5. But he decided to activate the knight in the wrong moment and after that he missed 17.Qb1. White got very strong minor pieces in the resulting endgame and won easily.
Till next month, Marian
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